Distibuter Timing

[bloxman]

Evening everyone

Quick Question

I have completed the Distributer swap to Electronic E12-80 from a points distributer.

It went in beautiful...bolted her down. and she started up with the first turn of the key.

but....

I find it wants to Idle quite high like 1600 rpm . Wasn't like that before , (around 900 Rpm)

I am wondering if possibly, as the spark is much better in the electronic ignition distributer that the engine is burning the mixture better, thus getting more revolutions from the same fuel

Or should I screw with the Distributer a little.

I tried checking the timing with the strobe light but I couldn't see a mark on the crank pulley? I have read a lot of threads trhat mention as many as five marks! Yikes!

I kinda think I have found one using a wire brush degreaser and a can of high heat paint but its debateable.

Anyway let me have some thoughts and concepts to mull over.

Thanks as always , if its an issue I could take pictures of the Crank Pulley timing Mark (supposed), Distributer, or anything else that might be of assistance

Lawrence

[Arne]

So all you did was bolt it on? You haven't checked or set the timing at all?

[zack_280]

You probably need to remove your valve cover and make sure get the mechanical time at top-dead-center. Once you know that, the mark should be easy to see and you can make it more visible by filing or marking it.

To be sure you are at TDC you can remove the #1 spark plug and see that the piston is at the top of it's travel (or you can stick a wire tie in there to feel it). When you are at top-dead-center the dizzy rotor should be pointed toward the front of the car. Your correct timing mark should not be easy to find. I think it takes a 27mm or 1 1/8" socket to turn the engine crank.

When you check the timing, you need to have the engine warmed up and remove the vac advance (or just pinch it off. Ha...pinch it off)

Good luck.

[MikeW]

I tried checking the timing with the strobe light but I couldn't see a mark on the crank pulley? I have read a lot of threads trhat mention as many as five marks! Yikes!

Some engines have a single pointer with multiple marks on the crank pulley. Others have a single mark on the pulley and a sort of timing ruler with multiple marks. Which type of pointer do you have?

[bloxman]

Arne:

I removed the old distributer (points type), installed a suitable base Pushed in the replacement , (rememember the distributer is Keyed), tightened the bolts securing it to the block . Made the appropriate wiring changes (disposed of the ballast.

hooked up the battery and Woof!

How could it have changed timing just siting there, or am I missing something?

Blox

[Arne]

The timing of your distributor is not set, then. The timing adjustment is by pivoting the distributor on the base pedestal. When you simply bolted it up, you got lucky. The shaft index simply controls rotor position, not timing.

[bloxman]

Zack 280

You really think that all that is necessary, the car runs , and takes throttle under no load it just idling kinda high. I mean it starts with the first twist of the key so I'm thinking the timing is likely very very close.

I 'm just thinking I might need to slaken the adjustment bolts on the dizzy and "turn it down" a little.

Or should i just turn down the carbs.

I 'm looking for input as to why the idle jumped up by seven hundred rpm with the distributer upgrade/ swap?

Lawrence

[bloxman]

MikeW

Well I'd definately I have to say I have the single slice on pulley and the little ruler.

See pic.

Lawrence

[bloxman]

Arne

So I should loosen the two nuts ;

One at back and below, one in front with the little indicater line. and with the car running give it incremental turns.

Or ,should I make small adjustments shutting it off between adjustments?

Lawrence

[madkaw]

If the engine fired right up you are close. Sounds like the timing is way advanced so try moving the dizzy while it is running to see if it brings the idle down closer to normal and see how it runs. You might just be an 1/4" off your adjustment. The timing might be so advanced that your timing light won't pick-up the marks.

Your not going to hurt anything adjusting the timing while running:paranoid:

[bloxman]

Madkaw

Any thoughts on which way to turn? I'm a little concerned about a flame fart out the forward most Carb as I will be right there. So.. clockwise or counter clockwise

Thanks

Lawrence

[bloxman]

Update

O.K. guys I gave everything(the two bolts a little slack ,and turned in a counter clocwise fashion . And the revs come down. I kept turning until the revs came to between 800 and a thousand.

I test drove the car a little!!! (it wouldn't get outa the driveway), lacked power and wanted to cut off.

Sooo.. the timing is way off. Funny that it ran so well! actually its kinda freaking me out a little like their is some thing wrong with the clutch.

I suspect it must be 180 degrees rotated .

So I went back to basics or tried anyway

I took out the # 1 plug and shoved a piece of welding rod in the plug hole.

took off the cap and crawled under the car with my 1/2" drive sockets and

nothing .. I don't seem to have any thing large enough in a short socket to fit . its way bigge rthan 19mm and it's even bigger than 1" that a little more than 25mm. Anybody know what size it is ?

Looks like it will need to be thin walled too.

Anybody knows I'd appreciate it otherwise I 'll grab what I can over an inch and 25mm. Selection at the hardware is not exactly great at the hardware in Grenada.